| Ed. note: The following is one of twenty races we are featuring in the Texas Political Report. Annie's List provided research and analysis for this race. Candidate Pages: Jamie Dorris website, on Facebook, on Twitter
Candidate Pages: Rep. Joe Driver website, on Facebook, on Twitter District Overview: The Numbers, The Issues, and the Candidates
District 113 includes the cities of Garland, Sasche and Rowlett in northeast Dallas County. Obama lost the district in 2008 with 43.9% of the vote, but like many of the suburban districts Democrats have won in recent years, District 113’s demographics are changing rapidly and the chance for a Democratic pick-up has dramatically increased this month as the incumbent Republican battles major ethics scandals. After all -- Rep. Joe Driver Stole From Texas Taxpayers and Is Lying to Cover It Up - Rep. Joe Driver paid for his travel to "luxury hotels, airline tickets, meals, fees and incidentals" with campaign funds.
- Rep. Joe Driver then billed the state -- or, considering he'd already been paid back with campaign funds, outright stole from taxpayers -- for the exact same travel expenses. It is important to understand the order: first the campaign paid for his travel, then he billed the state. It is outright impossible to not know that is wrong -- he's getting covered twice for something he only paid for once.
- Rep. Joe Driver has been in office for 18 years. In the last five years alone, he stole at least $17,431.55 from taxpayers.
Why Democrats Could Unseat Driver
The race is still uphill -- a recent Republican poll put Driver comfortably ahead of Dorris. However, with more voter education, there's a real chance Dorris can deliver a message and put together a field program that carries her over the top. The race hinges on the ability of Dorris' campaign to educate enough voters in the race about Driver's misdeeds -- something we'll have a clearer picture of in about a month's time, once more voter persuasion is done in the district. And Dorris provides a nice contrast to an ethically-challenged incumbent -- she has roots in the district, being active in her church and community and coming from a family with a law enforcemebt background. June 30 Campaign Finance Report: | HD 113: Dorris vs. Driver | Contributions
| Expenditures
| Cash on Hand
| Jamie Dorris (D)
| $68,984 | $2,093 | $67,314 | Rep. Joe Driver (R)
| $111,125 | $28,645
| $110,553 | Driver's Advantage
| $42,141 | - | $43,239 | |
